Puzzle



Dec H 1923.

F. LARABEE PUZZLE Filed Sept, 21. 1922 1 B a 4 i a E 0 R G E w A 6' s H a N G T 0 N FIG. 6. a

i? gnpe'ntoz 1 Land? Patented Dec. ill, 1923.

UNHTD FRANK LARAIBEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PUZZLE.

Application filed September 21, 1922. Serial No. 589,588.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK LAnAsnn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type of article of manufacture known as puzzles and has for the primary object thereof the production of such an article that is of comparatively simple construction, easy of manufacture and inexpensive of sale.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a puzzle that is not only educational in its nature, but one wherein the same will afford much amusement for both children and grown-ups.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel form,

combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my device showing the movable block elements in a osition after the puzzle has been solved,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but disclosing the movable block members in a position preliminarily to the solving of the puzzle and also showing the means in engagement for preventing displacement of one of the block elements received within an offset portion of the housing,

Figure 3 is a sectional view upon the broken lines III-HT of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 1 is a transverse cross sectional view upon the lines Ive-TV of Fig. 2,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view upon the lines VV of the same figure.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a modified form of the invention, and

Figures 7 and 8 are cross sectional views upon the lines VII- 7H and VIII-VH1 of Fig. 6, the latter mentioned one of the figures being fragmentarily shown.

Referring more in particular to the several figures, there is shown a substantially rectangular-shaped box member 1 having an open bottom and top. The bottom edges of the side walls of the box are inwardly flanged as at 2 for providing a marginal support for a removable rectangular-shaped bottom 3. One of the side walls of the box 1 has at either of its ends a projecting alcove or pocket portion 1, the inner wall of which is left open for communication with the interior of the box 1. The side walls of this alcove portion are inwardly flanged as at 5 for purposes hereinafter more fully described.

Received within the box 1 are a plurality of fiat like block members 6, preferably 16 in number and having the numerals 1 to 16 stamped, or otherwise formed thereon. These blocks may also have stamped thereon letters forming the name of some noted personage, in this instance George lVashington.

The blocks 6 are first placed within the rectangular box 1 in a promiscuous manner as shown in Fig. 2 whereby these blocks will be in unnumerical order. Bloc-k No. 16 is to be disposed within the offset alcove or pocket 1, the same resting on the inturned flanges 5 of this alcove portion thereby leaving an open space within the box 1 for allowing the blocks to be so moved in an endeavor to arrange these blocks in numerical order. After these blocks have been so arranged the uncovered space of the box will be adjacent the alcove portion 1 at which time the block 16 may be removed therefrom and enter this space after which the puzzle is completely solved.

In view of the rectangularshaped removable glass bottom 3 the side edge thereof adjacent the offset alcove 1 will function glass an abutment for the block6 within this alcove portion for preventing the same from being accidentally slid into the main box section and consequently interfering with the proper manipulation of these blocks. As a further means for preventing such an entrance of this block member into the main box the side walls of this alcove 4 are provided with alined perforations 7 for the reception of a sliding locking bar 8, the same being journaled in a sleeve 9 formed upon the adjacent side of the box 1. The opposite end of this locking memher 8 is right-angularly bent as at 10 for contacting with a projecting lug 11 upon the side wall of the box for preventing total disengagement of the member 8 from the sleeve 9. In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 there is shown a slightly modified form of my invention, which modification includes a rectangularshaped box member 12, similar to the box Soldered or being member 1, but having the bottom walls 13 formed as an integral part thereof. This box member is likewise provided with an offset alcove or pocket portion 14: with the bottom 13 of the box extending thereinto and formed as an integral part thereof. otherwise secured within this alcove portion of the box is a raised floor portion 15, the same including a rectangular-shaped strip of material having downwardly extending flanges at front and side edges designated by the numeral 16 whereby this floor portion is at an elevation slightly higher than that of the bottom 13 of the main box 1. i

The box shown in Figs. 6,- 7 and 8 is adapted to receive similar shaped sliding block members as shown in the other fig ures. The block member with the numeral 16 is also adapted to be positioned upon the raised bottom of the alcove or pocket 14 for purposes similar to the block within the alcove 4c of the box 1. The boxes 1 and 12 may be provided with a suitable form 0t sliding cover 17.

l/vhlle there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present'invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

l/Vhat Iclaim is 1. In a puzzle, a box member adapted for the reception of a plurality of flat like block members therein, an alcove portion formed upon said box and adapted to receive one of the block members while the puzzle is solved, the floor elevation of the alcove portion being different from thatof the bottom of the box member whereby the block member within this alcove is supported at a different elevation from that of the blocks within the box member, and means carried by said box member for bridging across said alcove adjacent the forward end of the member adapted for receiving a member for elevation of the, alcove bottom of the box member whereby the block member within this alcove is supported at a different elevation from that of the blocks within the box member, means carried by said box member for bridging across said alcove adjacent the forward end of the block supported therein for preventing sliding disengagement of this block from its alcove portion, said means including a horizontally disposed rod carried by the end of the box adjacent the. alcove portion and adapted to extend through perforations in the side walls of the said alcove portion.

3.111 a puzzle, a rectangular-shaped box plurality of rectangular-shaped fiat like block members with numerals formed thereon, an alcove portion formed at one corner of the box supporting a designated one of the block members whereby a space with in the box member substantially equivalent 7 to the diameter of this block is left open for readily permitting the sliding movement of the block members within the box for arranging these block members in numerical order, the elevation of the floor of the alcove portion being different from that of the bottom of the box, ;and means for bridging across the side walls of the alcove portion for preventing sliding disengagement of the block member from the alcove into the rectangular-shaped box. 7 n

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

FRANK LARABEE. 

